All over the country a series of Occupy movements has created a
unique set of legal problems in many different jurisdictions at the same
time. Here in Denver Hebets & McCallin has committed to represent
those charged during the protest for free and is part of a group of 50
lawyers taking cases. In Denver some of the first appearances for
defendants begin this week, but the ultimate fate of these cases still
has a long time to develop. Around the country in different areas
different legal strategies are emerging.

The lawyers for New York City’s Occupy Wall Street have decided to pursue a different strategy. Their defense team is threatening to shut down the court system.
The strategy here is to take every person arrested to a trial which
could ground the criminal justice system to a halt. The lawyers hope
that this will force the DA to dismiss many of the charges.

Another legal strategy involves a concept called jury nullification.
Jury nullification is contentious, but juries in history have found
defendants ‘not guilty’ on several occasions even though there was clear
evidence a crime was committed. Jury nullification occurs when the
jury members believe that the charged crime was technically committed by
the defendant, but they still vote for a not guilty verdict because
they believe it to be the just thing to do under the circumstances of
the case. In this instance juries may prove unwilling to convict
protestors.

With over 1,500 arrests in various Occupy movements
and more being added nearly every day the legal developments
surrounding these cases will continue. Any person arrested for
protesting or any other offense should seek a free consultation with a
criminal lawyer such as those offered at Hebets & McCallin.